New Year’s Eve solidarity vigil with Gaza – Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge

DUBLIN CITY CENTRE’S bustling Ha’penny Bridge was adorned with Palestinian flags and ‘Free Gaza’ banners on new Year’s Eve to remind people of the second anniversary of the Israeli military assault on Gaza that left 1,400 people dead.

The solidarity event was was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and captured on video by Paula Geraghty.

IPSC Chairperson Freda Hughes said:

This is an annual event in which our supporters congregate at a well-known Irish landmark in order to show solidarity internationally with the people of Gaza."

Two years on from the barbaric assault that left 1,400 people dead and destroyed the infrastructure of the region, the people of Gaza continue to suffer under a crippling blockade.

Freda Hughes noted that, according to a recent report by a coalition of aid agencies including Amnesty and Oxfam, there has been "little improvement" for people in Gaza since Israel announced it was allegedly easing its illegal blockade six months ago. Meanwhile, Gazans continue to be the victims of Israeli air-strikes and military aggression.

Freda Hughes thanked the campaigners who turned out, the many hundreds of people who took leaflets and expressed their support for Palestine, adding:

We look forward to building the movement in the New Year.